ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1929, the Academy of Art University has steadily grown to become the largest private, accredited art school in the nation.  The campus encompasses more than 20 buildings in and around downtown San Francisco with over 8000 students from over 70 countries.  Throughout the years, the school’s unofficial philosophy has remained the same, to hire today’s best practicing professionals to teach the art and design professionals of tomorrow.

 

The school offers programs of study in twelve areas of art and design.  Extensive senior year internship programs allow students to gain valuable experience and strong portfolios in their chosen fields before graduation.

 

The Academy invests heavily to ensure that every department’s facilities are equipped with the current technology.  The Computer Arts-New Media department includes more than 500 computers and multiple SGI workstations.  The Motion Pictures & Television department boasts AVID and Media 100 editing bays, a Green Screen Studio and an extensive array of film and video cameras.  The Photography department occupies its own building and shares half another building with Fine Arts Painting and Printmaking departments.  Its resources include full-length shooting studios, tabletop studios, 15 individual darkrooms and high-end cameras and strobe systems.  The 58,000 square foot sculpture facility offers classroom and workshop space for all kinds of sculpture, metal fabrication, welding, jewelry design and life casting.  Other academic facilities include an extensive state-of-the-art research library with CD-ROM and Internet access.

 

Degrees

Academy of Art University offers Associate of Arts, Bachelors of Fine Arts, Master of Fine Arts Degrees, and certificate programs in twelve areas.  In 2002, the Academy added an extensive online distance-learning program to its curriculum.  The program currently offers over 400 online classes in eleven different subjects and several online degree programs.  Visit online.academyart.edu for more detailed information and an online class demonstration.

 

Enrollment

Total Students: 8000 plus
International Students: Approx. 2600

 

Entrance Requirements

Applicants for the BFA program must have a high school diploma or equivalent.  MFA Applicants must submit a portfolio and have earned a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.  They must also submit a personal statement of intent and two letters of recommendation.  International students are required to either submit TOEFL or TOEIC scores, however there in NO minimum score requirement.  The score, along with a written speech test, is used to determine the ESL placement.  (ESL classes can be taken in conjunction with art and design classes).

 

International Student Department

The International Students Office at the Academy of Art University provides a number of services, among them orientation programs, academic and personal/cultural counseling, cross cultural programs, immigration guidance and English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) support.  All new students must take an English placement test upon arrival.  The Academy has developed a unique ESL program that allows students to study English wile they are taking their first levels of foundation courses.  The ESL department aims to improve comprehension in art classes, foster cultural awareness and provide the essential language skills required to be successful artists and designers throughout the world.

Application Materials Requested

• Completed Application for Admission
• $100 application fee (US currency)
• $500 tuition-deposit – applied to first tuition payment (US currency)
• Official Transcripts of high school/college attended (with certified English translation)
• Certification of finances and supporting financial documents (forms available from the Academy)
• Portfolios are required for transferring college art credits to the Academy and for entrance into the master’s degree program.

 

Housing

Dormitory space in the Academy’s campus-run buildings is available in a wide variety of prices and accommodation configurations.  The Student Housing department also offers housing assistance for students to locate alternative living arrangements. 

 

Climate and Geography

The city of San Francisco is one of the great cultural centers of the world, a melting pot of diversity and creativity that has spawned major museums and galleries, world-class performing arts, film production and technological innovation.  The climate is moderate and offers kaleidoscopic blends of sunshine and fog nine months of the year.  The Academy’s classrooms, studios, galleries, and dormitories are located in such areas as world famous Fisherman’s Wharf, historic Union Square, the Financial District and South of Market (SOMA).  A private fleet of Academy buses, which are scheduled around class and lab times, connects all dormitories to all campus facilities.